Setsuhana had never experienced a lack of friends in her life. She got along with most others, and though she had her quirks, like everyone, she tended to be likeable and to pursue relationships with others that led to success. But she, however gregarious she may have been, only ever had one friend who she trusted the way she did Baika. The klipspringer was always just what she needed; someone to talk to, someone to listen to her when she was upset, someone to look out for things when Setsuhana went on one of her long walks and left the den unguarded. The other lionesses of her pride may have felt oddly about having the tiny antelope hanging around the dens, but Setsuhana let anyone who have her an odd look know she felt about that, and gradually the others just learned to tolerate it. Had Setsuhana been a male lion, they both might have been asked to leave for this oddity.
Setsuhana was just returning today from one of her long excursions. This one had kept her out all night, and she was trying to slip back into the den area unnoticed. The sun was still climbing over the horizon, and so she hoped that most of the sleeping lionesses of her pride would still be slumbering. They'd be waking soon, but hopefully she'd be back in her den before anyone noticed she had been gone. It wasn't so much a rule of the pride that she stay within it's borders, but she didn't want to have to explain her wanderlust to anyone. It was just one of her things, and she wanted to keep it private. Especially since this time, it hadn't been just walking about...
Setsuhana sniffed around, moving on lift feet as she crept up towards her den. She didn't see anyone about, but that didn't someone might not be watching. And, as it turned out, someone was. But it wasn't who she expected.
”You're rather late getting back,” a voice piped up, and though it started Setsuhana at first, she let out a relieved sigh as she recognized it as Baika. The klipspringer was still in her den, apparently awake, and watching her with a smirk.
You're startled me, Setsuhana chided Baika, trudging up and slinking into her den. The little klipspringer moved out of the way for the large lioness to make room. ”Why are you still awake? Were you waiting up for me?”
”No, I don't bother with that. No telling when you ever get back,” Baika replied, teasing her friend, ”No, I'm usually up at this time. Why shouldn't I be? Te sun is coming up.”
Apparently, Baika had no concept to sleeping in. Setsuhana grinned and sighed, laying her head down on her paws and closing her eyes. But Baika was wide awake, and wasn't ready to shut up just yet.
”You were gone an usually long time this time, even for you,” The klipspringer commented, trying to sound casual, ”Did anything happen? I usually assume you're out hunting when you go, but a hunt wouldn't have taken so long, and you wouldn't have come back with nothing.”
”Yes, yes, you're very observant,” Setsuhana replied tiredly, rolling her eyes but still grinning. She couldn't help it. ”Not that it's any of your business, but I met someone. That's why I was out so late this time.” Setsuhana stopped like she meant to conclude her conversation there but she knew Baika wouldn't let it rest with just that.
”Ooooh, really?” Baika replied, and Setsuhana could tell that even though her tone was slightly exaggerated, she was still quite interested to hear the story, ”Someone who kept you out all night, hmm? Someone... male, maybe?”
”You are correct.” Setsuhana remarked, yawning. She could tell by the tone in the klipspringer's voice that she wouldn't get to go to sleep until she told the full story. So she elaborated a little. ”Well, it had been raining a lot yesterday, and I saw this cave I could dry off in. But it wasn't empty. There was a lion in it named Daktari, but he was very nice... and handsome.” Setsuhana shot a meaningful look at the little antelope. ”Do you need to know more?”
”Maybe,” Baika replied, unabashed, ”So... how far did it go? This little tryst of yours?”
”Far enough, not that it's any of your concern,” Setsuhana was tired, and Baika was getting a little too nosy. She was allowed to keep some things to herself, wasn't she? But the klipspringer was immediately contrite.
”Okay, yes, I'm sorry,” Baika nodded, conceding Setsuhana's point. ”It's just that, well, that seems so... irresponsible to me. What if you got pregnant? And what if the pride leaders found out? Your long walks out of the borders would soon be over for sure if they knew what you were doing out there.”
”It was just this one time!” Setsuhana shot back, defending herself, ”And I probably won't get pregnant anyway. It was only for a night!” But still, Baika's words made her think about it. It wasn't impossible for that to happen... and what would she do just in case it did? She hadn't made any plans for that sort of thing, but now might be the time.
”If I were to end up pregnant because of this little fling,” Setsuhana began, thinking aloud as her mind worked over the situation, ”Maybe one of the pride males might like the credit? After all, it does promote them in rank once they sire a litter.”
”You'd have to work fast though,” Baika warned, skeptical, ”You've never really hung around the pride males much. For it to be believable you'd have to be seen with him a few times.”
”Well, I can start hanging around down by the male's dens today,” Setsuhana replied, blinking her eyes tiredly, ”AFTER I get some rest. This is only for a precaution, anyway. In all likelihood I won't get pregnant, and I'll have nothing to worry about. You worry too much.”
”I think I worry just the right amount for both of us,” Baika asserted, grinning. But she could see how tried her friend seemed, and knew she'd probably not slept all last night. So she gave up and finally added, ”Well, I'll stop bothering you. I hope for your sake that everything works out the way you seem confident it will.”
Setsuhana may or may not have heard her friend's words, but by the time Baika looked back at her, she was sound asleep.
